Re: Species Question

Cladistics and phylogenetics provide a way to surmise the evolutionary development of the genus hosta. Several researchers have written on this, Myong Chung being the main one. Ben Zonneveld's work also strengthens the validity of hosta evolution as we now consider it. First, read my comments on evolutionary considerations on page 299, my book. Apparently, there were two evolutionary branches of hosta as described in my book. The northern branch species seem to have higher nuclear DNA content (2C - pg) than the species in the southern branch (per Fig. 1 in Zonneveld and van Iren, in Plant Biology, 3 (2001), 176-185). Thus, Ben's work provides another indicator that this theory may in fact not be one.

W. George

----- Original Message -----

From: gw1944@vermontel.net

Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2002 7:23 AM

To: hosta-open@mallorn.com

Subject: Species Question

My sincere thanks to George Schmid, Joe Halinar , Ben Z. and Bill Meyerfor the education I am now receiving on the hosta species debate. I haveadded a number of words to my vocabulary. This has been fantastic. I figurethat my silence has been my contribution. But , and there is always a but,in reading something in Joe's last e-mail ( the suggestion that the hostais descended from the ancient amphidiplois) , I find that I have a "CharlieBrown" question on hosta species.

In the human species there has been ( I think) the search for an "Eve"from which all other species could be traced. Is there , could there be,does the possibility exist, that there is such a species hosta?

In 1870 Ernst Haeckel, a German biologist, coined the word " okologie",which became oECOlogy before the "o" was dropped. Its literal meaning isthe "study of houses," but in this case it may be more fitting to say, "thestudy of our house,' meaning the planet earth.Glen Williams20 Dewey St.Springfield , Vermont05156Tel: 802-885-2839